Saudi asks Turkey to postpone searching its consulate

Consulate officers are seen at the entrance of Saudi consulate as the waiting continues on the disappearance of Prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, Turkey on 11 October 2018 [Ahmet Bolat/Anadolu Agency]

Saudi authorities have asked Turkey to postpone searching its consulate in Istanbul where Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is believed to have been killed last week, Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak reported yesterday.

Turkey had announced yesterday that it would search the consulate as part of its investigation in to Khashoggi’s disappearance. The journalist has not been seen since he entered the building last Tuesday.

Khashoggi was inside, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate.

Read: Order for Khashoggi’s murder came from the top say Turkish officials

Khashoggi lived in self-imposed exile in Washington, US, for fear of retribution for his criticism of the Saudi regime, its war on Yemen, crackdown on dissent and blockade on Qatar.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he is following the case closely, calling on Riyadh to prove its claim that Khashoggi had left the consulate.

So much for Freedom of Expression in Saudi Arabia – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

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